Interesting read.

For those who believe Rose is a bad defensive player - though with his athleticism he could be at the top of this list soon.

Ben Gordon

A former Sixth Man Award winner and the Bulls' leading scorer each of the past three seasons, Gordon said recently that he would not take the team's one-year qualifying offer ($6.4 million), even though it would enable him to become an unrestricted free agent next year. He also said he thinks he has played his last game for the Bulls.

Gordon can hope for a sign-and-trade, but it's going to be tough to pull off. Any team would have to have players (and contracts) that Chicago is willing to take back in return, and there are base-year compensation issues. The consensus among front-office types seems to be that Gordon will change his mind and end up taking the one-year qualifier.

Tim (Chicago): Where does Ben Gordon end up when everything is said and done?

SportsNation John Hollinger: Somehow, some way, I think there's a sign and trade in his future. But he'd be a base-year compensation player, and that creates issues -- somebody like Memphis would probably need to get involved to facilitate a deal.

Forget about Ben Gordon as a Heat option, even as he stands at a free-agent impasse with the Bulls. For Shawn Marion? How would that make sense for a team that already has Dwyane Wade at shooting guard and made a considerable investment in James Jones as its designated shooter?

The only answer would be if Gordon could be viewed as a point guard, which he is not. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel

[From the FanShots. No real new information, unfortunately. -ed.]

"His best deal might be to take the qualifying offer," one GM said. "He could still re-sign with the Bulls next year. He'd just have more leverage."